The Federal
Army Entering Richmond VA. April 03rd 1865, Frank LESLIES 1895
BOOK HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR,

On April 2,
1865 Black troops are among the first to enter Petersburg. The next day,
on April 3,
1865 Black troops in the 25th Corps were the first to enter
Richmond, the Confederate Capital. Col. Draper led the black troops at
New Market Heights and was promoted to general. He places his black
troops at the front of the Union army when they entered Richmond. The 25th Corps pursued Robert E. Lee’s Army and
participated in the closing battle at Clover Hill, April 9th, the day of
Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
The 25th Corps was the largest black Army assembled in American history.

“The
night they drove old Dixie down (lyrics,
YouTube)” is a song that represents the southern view of the day
that slaves were liberated at Richmond Virginia the capital of the
Confederacy.

"I have just returned from the city of Richmond; my
regiment was among the first that entered that city. I marched at the
head of the column, and soon I found myself called upon by the officers
and men of my regiment to make a speech, with which, of course, I
readily complied. A vast multitude assembled on Broad Street, and I was
aroused amid the shouts of ten thousand voices, and proclaimed for the
first time in that city freedom to all mankind. After which the doors of
all the slave pens were thrown open, and thousands came out shouting and
praising God, and Father, or Master Abe, as they termed him. In this
mighty consternation I became so overcome with tears that I could not
stand up under the pressure of such fullness of joy in my own heart. I
refired to gain strength, so I lost many important topics worthy of
note.

Among the densely crowded concourse there were
parents looking for children who had been sold south of this state in
tribes, and husbands came for the same purpose; here and there one was
singled out in the ranks, and an effort was made to approach the gallant
and marching soldiers, who were too obedient to orders to break ranks.

We continued our march as far as Camp Lee, at the
extreme end of Broad Street, running westwards. In camp the multitude
followed, and everybody could participate in shaking the friendly but
hard hands of the poor slaves. Among the many broken-hearted mothers
looking for their children who had been sold to Georgia and elsewhere,
was an aged woman, passing through the vast crowd of colored, inquiring
for [one] by the name of Garland H. White, who had been sold from her
when a small boy, and was bought by a lawyer named Robert Toombs, who
lived in Georgia.4 Since the war has been going on she has
seen Mr. Toombs in Richmond with troops from his state, and upon her
asking him where his body-servant Garland was, he replied: "He ran off
from me at Washington, and went to 'Canada. I have since learned that he
is living somewhere in the State of Ohio." Some of the boys knowing that
I lived in Ohio, soon found me and said, "Chaplain, here is a lady that
wishes to see you." I quickly turned, following the soldier until coming
to a group of colored ladies. I was questioned as follows:

"What is your name, sir?"
"My name is Garland H. White."
"What was your mother's name?"
"Nancy."
"Where was you born?"
"In Hanover County, in this State." "Where was
you sold from?" "From this city." "What was the name of the man who bought you?" "Robert Toombs." "Where did he live?" "In the State of Georgia." "Where did you leave him?" "At Washington." "Where did you go then?" "To Canada." "Where do you live now?" "In Ohio."

"This is your mother, Garland, whom you are now
talking to, who has spent twenty years of grief about her son."

I cannot express the joy I felt at this happy meeting
of my mother and other friends. But suffice it to say that God is on the
side of the righteous, and will in due time reward them. I have
witnessed several such scenes among the other colored regiments.

Late in the afternoon, we were honored with his
Excellency, the President of the United States, Lieutenant-General
Grant, and other gentlemen of distincfion.5 We made a grand
parade through most of the principal streets of the city, beginning at
Jeff Davis’s mansion, and it appeared to me that all the colored people
in the world had collected in that city for that purpose. I never saw so
many colored people in all my life, women and children of all sizes
running after Father, or Master Abraham, as they called him. To see the
colored people, one would think they had all gone crazy. The excitement
at this period was unabated, the tumbling of walls, the bursting of
shells, could be heard in all directions, dead bodies being found, rebel
prisoners being brought in, starving women and children begging for
greenbacks and hard tack, constituted the order of the day. The Fifth
[Massachusetts] Cavalry; colored, were still dashing through the streets
to protect and preserve the peace, and see that no one suffered
violence, they having fought so often over the walls of Richmond,
driving the enemy at every point.

Among the first to enter Richmond was the 28th
U.S.C.T. better known as the First Indiana Colored Volunteers. .

Some people do not seem to believe that the colored
troops were the first that entered Richmond. Why, you need not feel at
all timid in giving the truthfulness of my assertion to the four winds
of the heavens, and let the angels re-echo it back to the earth, that
the colored soldiers of the Army of the James were the first to enter
the city of Richmond. I was with them, and am still with them, and
am willing to stay with them until freedom is proclaimed throughout the
world. Yes, we will follow this race of men in search of liberty through
the whole Island of Cuba. All the boys are well, and send their love to
all the kind ones at home."

"When General
Draper's brigade entered the outskirts of the city it was halted, and a
brigade of Devin's division, 24th Corps, passed in to constitute the
provost guard. A scene was here witnessed which was not only grand, but
sublime. Officers rushed into each other's arms, congratulating them
upon the peaceful occupation of this citadel. Tears of joy ran down the
faces of the more aged. The soldiers cheered lustily, which were mingled
with every kind of expression of delight. The citizens stood gaping in
wonder at the splendidly-equipped army marching along under the graceful
folds of the old flag. Some waved their hats and women their hands in
token of gladness. The pious old negroes, male and female, indulged in
such expressions: "You've come at last"; "We've been looking for you
these many days"; "Jesus has opened the way"; "God bless you"; "I've not
seen that old flag for four years"; "It does my eyes good"; "Have you
come to stay?"; "Thank God", and similar expressions of exultation. The
soldiers, black and white, received these assurances of loyalty as
evidences of the latent patriotism of an oppressed people, which a
military despotism has not been able to crush.

Riding up to
a group of fine looking men, whose appearance indicated that they would
hardly have influence enough to keep them out of the army, I inquired
how it was they were not taken away with the force of Lee. They replied
that they had hid themselves when the rebel army had evacuated the city,
and that many more had done likewise, who would soon appear when assured
that there was no longer any danger of falling into the power of the
traitorous army.

These scenes
all occurred at the terminus of Osborn road, which connects with the
streets of the city, and is within the municipal limits. There General
Draper's brigade, with the gallant 36th U.S.C.T.'s drum corps, played
"Yankee Doodle" and "Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom," amid the
cheers of the boys and the white soldiers who filed by them. It ought to
be stated that the officers of the white troops were anxious to be the
first to enter the city with their organizations, and so far succeeded
as to procure an order when about three miles, distant, that General
Draper's brigade should take the left of the road, in order to allow
those of the 24th Corps, under General Devin, to pass by. General Draper
obeyed the order, and took the left of the road in order to let the
troops of Devin go by, but at the same time ordered his brigade on a
double-quick, well knowing that his men would not likely be over taken
on the road by any

soldiers in the army. For
marching or fighting Draper's ist Brigade, ist Division, 25th
Corps, is not to be surpassed in the service, and the General honors it
with a pride and a consciousness which inspire him to undertake
cheerfully whatever may be committed to his execution. It was his
brigade that nipped the flower of the Southern army, the Texas Brigade,
under Gary, which never before last September knew defeat. There may be
others who may claim the distinction of being the first to enter the
city, but as I was ahead of every part of the force but the cavalry,
which of necessity must lead the advance, I know whereof I affirm when I
announce that General Draper's brigade was the first organization to
enter the city limits. According to custom, it should constitute the
provost guard of Richmond.

Kautz's
division, consisting of Draper's and Wild's brigades, with troops of the
24th Corps, were placed in the trenches around the city, and Thomas'
brigade was assigned to garrison Manchester. Proper dispositions have
been made of the force to give security, and, soldier-like, placed the
defenses of the city beyond the possibility of a surprise.

As we
entered all the Government buildings were in flames, having been fired
by order of the rebel General Ewell. The flames soon communicated
themselves to the business part of the city; and continued to rage
furiously throughout the day. All efforts to arrest this destructive
element seemed for the best part of the day of no avail. The fire
department of Richmond rendered every aid, and to them and the
co-operate labors of our soldiers belongs the credit of having saved
Richmond from the devastating flames. As it is, all that part of the
city lying between Ninth and Fourteenth streets, between Main street and
the river inclusive, is in ruins. Among the most prominent buildings
destroyed are the rebel War Department, Quar­termaster General's
Department, all the buildings with commissary stores, Shockoe's and
Dibbrel's warehouses, well stored with tobacco, Dis patch and
Enquirer newspaper buildings, the court house, (Guy) House, Farmers'
Bank, Bank of Virginia, Exchange Bank, Tracers' Bank, American and
Columbia hotels, and the Mayo bridge which unites Richmond with
Manchester. The buildings of the largest merchants are among those which
have been reduced to ashes.

The flames,
in spreading, soon communicated to poor and rich houses alike. All
classes were soon rushing, into the streets with their goods, to save
them."